What is this?

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Parts of an automatic wanking machine?

Information

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[1886nut]

Hi guys (and gals),

Anybody know what this is? It's OMG complicated with drums, slides, sprockets, gears, gorgeous main casting. I figure it has to be military. Any help appreciated.

Some idea of size might help. Either the device is really small or those slotted screw heads are monsters.

Looks like there are two different mechanisms in the photos. The big square assembly looks like some kind of externally driven device (stepper motors mayber?) for extremely precise X and Y linear movements for the positioning of something else. The big round secondary gear might be for movement in another degree. My guess would be its some kind of spotting or targeting device, possibly military but also could be for precise topography or astronomy. Part of a surveyors device?

That doesnt look like the table on any machine tool I ever saw, but it might be some kind of positioning device for a laser cutter, which wouldnt experience the forces and chattering that a milling table would.

I dont think its old enough to be a WWII Norder part, but I do think its from some sort of optical device.

[1886nut]

That big disk with the little wheels around it almost looks like its supposed to go on top and provide electromechanical feedback to the movement of the parts in the main assembly......could also be part of one of the old inertial navigation systems the military and some used to use before GPS and terrain mapping computers....almost certainly from an aircraft or missile.

[Buckeye Shooter]

The F4 Phantom had an analog fire control computer. Could give you a headache just looking at it.

120 miles from Viale

[1886nut]

The F4 Phantom had an analog fire control computer. Could give you a headache just looking at it.

120 miles from Viale

Here's a good read on these devices:

Ship Gun Fire Control Systems - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[1886nut]

I looked at it again last night....I am sure that is a device for measuring and monitoring the linear outputs of another mechanism. In that case, it could be from anything, really. If its military, it sure could be part of an inertial or astral navigation system. Its definitely old...nothing put together in the last 35-40 years would have been assembled with slotted screw heads, they would have used hex, cap, or torx type screws. I dont think its as old as WWII....late 50s or early 60s vintage.

[JB White]

It's half the coin-op mechanism used to launch the space shuttle. Got quarters?

[RayP.]

I can make out the word "STRUT" on one of the long flat parts and there are more names,lettering,etc; but can't make out the letters clearly,we need Al to give us a list of the words,numbers,letter's and so on,might help,looks like there are 5 hard wire points on it,that might back up what Kragnut stated,would like a rule long side this thing so we could get idea of scale as someone has suggested.

RayP.

[JohnMOhio]

I checked back today and found many a good description and thought put into what this might be. Al, do you know or are you still trying to find out what it is?